Pig has no neck. This is, I suppose, completely normal for his species, and I believe this fact to be the major component of the phenomenon we call the "piggy pirouette". Pig can be out in the yard, rooting around, when a loud noise such as a passing car will frighten him. Because he can't turn his head as we can, to look behind him, he will make a sudden, 180-degree turn with his entire body, seeming to pivot on his front feet and swinging his backside around. If the offending noise is really loud, he may make a second 180-degree turn. He then runs - fast - in a circle. If I could figure out how to get it on him, I'd make him a piggy tutu and videotape this feat of barnyard ballet. . . but I will just have to add an un-costumed video later. Stay tuned. . . .
My husband has always been the one to train our dogs, and he was the one who trained Pig to sit. He and Arwen, our Golden Retriever, that is. Arwen responds to the American Sign Language command "sit" and Pig, being a very intelligent pig indeed, took his cue from her and learned this trick quickly. My son taught Pig to go up and down the steps to the deck, by leaving a trail of doggie treats on the stairs (reminiscent of E.T. and Reese's Pieces). My next goal for Pig is to teach him to shake hands, and I still want to train him to paint.
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